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How to Make Off-Grid Solar Electric Cooking Cheaper Than Wood-Based Cooking

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Van Buskirk

    (Kuyere, 3217 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705, USA)

  • Lawrence Kachione

    (Kachione, LLC, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi)

  • Gilbert Robert

    (Kachione, LLC, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi)

  • Rachel Kanyerere

    (Kachione, LLC, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi)

  • Christina Gilbert

    (Kachione, LLC, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi)

  • James Majoni

    (Kachione, LLC, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi)

Abstract

Low-income sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) households rely on wood for cooking for the simple reason that it is the lowest cost cooking fuel. Thus, full attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) requires developing clean cooking technologies that are cheaper than wood cooking. This study provides a comparative marginal levelized cost of energy (MLCOE) analysis for wood cooking vs. innovative solar electric cooking technologies. The two key off-grid solar technologies evaluated are: (1) direct-use DC solar (DDS) electricity for cooking applications, and (2) high-cycle-life lithium titanate (LTO) batteries. MLCOE is reported in USD/kWh for energy delivered to cooked food. A low median MLCOE of USD 0.125/kWh is attained using DDS electricity which is output directly by a solar panel with little or no intervening electricity storage and few electricity conversion and control costs. DDS solar panel output has variable voltage and current that is managed by a specialized DDS cooker. LTO battery-regulated electricity has a median MLCOE of USD 0.24/kWh which declines to USD 0.16/kWh with electric pressure cooker use. The distributions of MLCOE for wood-based, DDS-electric, and LTO-electric cooking strongly overlap. The MLCOE cost model suggests specific means for modifying input costs, component lifetime, and system efficiency to improve solar MLCOE further relative to wood MLCOE.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Van Buskirk & Lawrence Kachione & Gilbert Robert & Rachel Kanyerere & Christina Gilbert & James Majoni, 2021. "How to Make Off-Grid Solar Electric Cooking Cheaper Than Wood-Based Cooking," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:14:p:4293-:d:595672
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gerber, Daniel L. & Nordman, Bruce & Brown, Richard & Poon, Jason, 2023. "Cost analysis of distributed storage in AC and DC microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    2. Constantinos Vassiliades & Ogheneruona Endurance Diemuodeke & Eric Boachie Yiadom & Ravita D. Prasad & Wassim Dbouk, 2022. "Policy Pathways for Mapping Clean Energy Access for Cooking in the Global South—A Case for Rural Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-24, October.
    3. Shafiqa Keddar & Scott Strachan & Stuart Galloway, 2022. "Bridging the Affordability between Battery-Supported Electric Cooking and Conventional Cooking Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Simon Batchelor & Ed Brown & Nigel Scott & Matthew Leach & Anna Clements & Jon Leary, 2022. "Mutual Support—Modern Energy Planning Inclusive of Cooking—A Review of Research into Action in Africa and Asia since 2018," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-29, August.
    5. Avijit Saha & Md. Abdur Razzak & M. Rezwan Khan, 2021. "Electric Cooking Diary in Bangladesh: Energy Requirement, Cost of Cooking Fuel, Prospects, and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Olabisi, Michael & Richardson, Robert B., 2022. "Why the poor pay higher energy prices: Evidence from Tanzania," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).

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